Cardiff EDC Internship Reports 2010-2016 The Cardiff EDC offers full time and part time internships to young people with an interest in Europe, who are looking for a stimulating, responsible and enjoyable work experience within a European environment. After a full time internship we ask each intern to write a report describing their experience – here you will find the reports compiled since 2010. Contents Christopher Langen, June-July 2010 (Germany) ................................................................................. 3 Veronika Brázdilová, August 2010 (Czech Republic)........................................................................... 5 Nadja Kalinna and Felix Franke, August-September 2010 (Germany) ................................................ 6 Helen Halbert, November 2010 (Canada) ........................................................................................... 8 George Gurescu, January-April 2011 (Romania) ............................................................................... 10 Johanna Kämäräinen, May–September 2011 (Finland) .................................................................... 12 Jorge Montesdeoca Pérez, October 2011-February 2012 (Spain) .................................................... 14 Hélène Louis, October 2011-March 2012 (France) ........................................................................... 16 Lucas Goetz, February – July 2012 (France) ...................................................................................... 19 Audrey Domise, April-June 2012 (France) ........................................................................................ 22 Ewelina Bruździak and Anna Wilczewska, June-September 2012 (Poland)...................................... 24 Marianne Mujunen, October 2012 – February 2013 (Finland) ......................................................... 26 Alessandro Sitzia, March-May 2013 (Italy) ....................................................................................... 28 Frederico Rocha, February-July 2013 (Portugal) ............................................................................... 30 Ariane Apodaca, July – August 2013 (Spain) ..................................................................................... 32 Lilla Farkas, September 2013 – January 2014 (Hungary) .................................................................. 34 Sophie Lobig, September 2013 – February 2014 (Germany) ............................................................ 36 Raphael Tservenis, February-May 2014 (Greece) ............................................................................. 38 Princy Bourdeaud'Hui, February-June 2014 (Belgium) ..................................................................... 40 Gauthier Monté, May-August 2014 (France) .................................................................................... 42 Iris Eibensteiner, July-August 2014 (Austria) .................................................................................... 44 1 Selene Moscardó Navarro, September 2013 – September 2014 (Spain) ......................................... 46 Laura Paatelainen, June-October 2014 (Finland).............................................................................. 48 Aysylu Gimranova, September - November 2014 (Russia) ............................................................... 50 Anita Zalaldinova, January – April 2015 (Russia) .............................................................................. 52 Roberta Facchinetti Forlani, February – April 2015 (Italy) ................................................................ 54 Elisa Patassa, March – May 2015 (Italy) ........................................................................................... 56 Lisa Kleiber, April – August 2015 (Germany) .................................................................................... 58 Sedef Asli Topal, July – August 2015 (Turkey)................................................................................... 61 Beatrice Emanuele, June – September 2015 (Italy) .......................................................................... 64 Roberta D’Agostino, September – December 2015 (Italy) ............................................................... 66 Irina Eremenko, January – April 2016 (Russia) ................................................................................. 68 Lisa Robillard, February – June 2016 (France) .................................................................................. 70 Kuan Huang, June – September 2016 (China) .................................................................................. 72 Michaela Mejdrová, July - September 2016 (Czech Republic) .......................................................... 74 Bruno Conte, August 2016 - September 2016 (Italy) ........................................................................ 76 For further information on internships at the Cardiff EDC: Website: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/european-documentation- centre/internships Blog: http://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/european-documentation- centre/category/internships/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CardiffEDC/ Email: [email protected] 2 Christopher Langen, June-July 2010 (Germany) Part of my Masters programme 'English Studies' at the Freie Universität Berlin is to analyse contemporary cultural concepts, e.g. national identity and its relation to the Loss of Empire and the European Union. During my work as a Foreign Language Assistant for German in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, in 2009-10, I realised that British public opinion towards the European Union differs from that of other European countries I had previously experienced. This gave me an incentive for research in this field and I had some interesting and informative conversations with Andy Klom, the Head of the European Commission's Representation in Wales, and Ian Thomson, Director of the Cardiff EDC and Executive Editor of European Sources Online (ESO). When Ian Thomson offered me an internship to pursue this research further and to contribute to the existing service of the EDC and ESO I gladly accepted it. My work at the EDC basically consisted of three major tasks: to revise outdated country and miscellaneous ESO Information Guides to support the maintenance of the ESO database to research and compile a new information guide on Euroscepticism. All of these tasks require but also enhance computer and internet skills as the work is based on internet research – which can be challenging at times – and integrating information into existing or new files. In addition, I accompanied Ian Thomson to a planning meeting for the 2011 Wales, Europe and the World event at the headquarters of Cilt Cymru. The event will be held in Cardiff in February 2011, and is intended for children between 12 and 18. I also met a group of EDC librarians from Romania who were visiting the Cardiff EDC in June and joined them as they went to visit the Representation of the European Commission in Cardiff Bay. The staff in the EDC are very supportive regarding questions on both technical and content issues. Additionally, you are encouraged to share your own experiences and make suggestions. Ian Thomson is always interested in discussing new or different working procedures and concepts. The atmosphere at work is focused but relaxed and very cooperative. All the tasks at the EDC are related to European issues; therefore working there helps to broaden one's knowledge about the EU and Europe as a whole, especially through the editing of the country information guides. The maintenance of the ESO database provides a good insight into this specific type of database and fosters competencies in internet search engines and website structures. As the working language is English, it is an excellent chance to improve both productive and receptive language skills, even though internees should be proficient particularly in the latter. Further 3 knowledge of European languages can be very helpful but is not obligatory, since all documents are compiled in English. Even though I was not able to stay as long as I planned initially – due to the fact that I was not granted ERASMUS Student Mobility for Placement funding by my home university – I regard the work at the EDC as highly beneficial. I got good insights into another part of British every-day life and was able to improve my English further by constantly using it on a professional level. Conducting my research at the EDC was a brilliant opportunity, as Ian Thomson was very helpful and is an outstanding resource himself, apart from all the other valuable resources at the EDC. It was a welcome experience to apply knowledge gained throughout my studies and to contribute actively to an information network. To discuss ideas about Europe, the EU, European integration and politics with members of staff was instructive as well as a pleasure. To live in South Wales for a year was a great experience. The picturesque seaside and valleys, authentic small towns, historic sites and Cardiff itself offer diverse attractions and leisure time activities all in close proximity. To enjoy them fully, a car is helpful but most things, particularly in Cardiff, can be reached by public transport. As I could go on for pages, I will just name my top five attractions. They are, in random order: hiking on the Valeways Millennium Heritage Trail; exploring the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans; sunbathing and surfing in Rest Bay, Porthcawl; witnessing medieval spectacles in